UPB is Killer

[ano]

O.K. This is a strange one. I'm explaining it here in a few lines, but its been a baffling problem for at least 6 months.

It started about 6 months ago when I switched my UPB computer interface from a Simply Automated Computer Interface to the PCS PulseWorx model, mostly because I added a Gen II PCS repeater, and thought I needed a Gen II Computer Interface to make it all work. My UPB worked great, as usual, and I didn't realize it at the time, but this new Computer interface caused many LED lights in my house to flicker, caused an LED sign I use in my kitchen to act-up, and, I believe to possibly killed some UPB modules and switches in my house. I don't think these problems started right away, but they did occur over time.

It took lots of detective work to figure this out but I finally traced it back to the PulseWorx UPB Computer Interface because I noticed the lights flickered and the LED sign went crazy at random intervals. When I unplugged it, the problems were gone.

Does anyone know of a case where the PulseWorx UPB Computer Interface caused these problems? The UPB modules and switches all fail the same way, they lose the ability to communicate with UpStart othewise they go into program mode and act normally but just don't communicate any longer.

 

[Penman]

O.K. This is a strange one. I'm explaining it here in a few lines, but its been a baffling problem for at least 6 months.

It started about 6 months ago when I switched my UPB computer interface from a Simply Automated Computer Interface to the PCS PulseWorx model, mostly because I added a Gen II PCS repeater, and thought I needed a Gen II Computer Interface to make it all work. My UPB worked great, as usual, and I didn't realize it at the time, but this new Computer interface caused many LED lights in my house to flicker, caused an LED sign I use in my kitchen to act-up, and, I believe to possibly killed some UPB modules and switches in my house. I don't think these problems started right away, but they did occur over time.

It took lots of detective work to figure this out but I finally traced it back to the PulseWorx UPB Computer Interface because I noticed the lights flickered and the LED sign went crazy at random intervals. When I unplugged it, the problems were gone.

Does anyone know of a case where the PulseWorx UPB Computer Interface caused these problems? The UPB modules and switches all fail the same way, they lose the ability to communicate with UpStart othewise they go into program mode and act normally but just don't communicate any longer.

I have been using a PCS UPB computer interface since I first started using UPB six years ago. I have about 55 UPB devices from PCS, SA, and Web Mtn, and have never had any of them fail.

I have had wall-wart type transformers fail and spew noise onto the line to the point my UPB devices were intermittent, but once the offending transformer was removed, everything went back to normal.

It sounds to me like you might have a bad PCS computer interface. You could try switching back to your SA interface.

 

[apostolakisl]

I have a hard time thinking that power line noise could physically damage a UPB switch. A physical failure would require current flowing in excess of specs and I just can't get my mind around anyway a PCS interface could inject such intense power line disruption.

The only way I can imagine such a thing is if it were sending repeated commands at rapid fire intervals that the UPB switches were trying to respond to resulting in damage. But I would think that you would see the devices behaving erratically before they failed.

 

[Digger]

Could a surge have damaged the devices including the PCS Interface?

 

[JonW]

I've never seen a PIM do what you describe, but I have had some keypads become non-responsive. I found out that the switches actually became corrupt. I had to do a reset on them and then do a full reprogram. The keypads this happened to though were very early models from late 2003. One thing to test with switches or keypads that appear to not be working is to see if they actually transmit something when pressed. I found that mine were sending erroneous data when they were corrupted. A factory reset and reprogam has always fixed it though.

You should check if your PIM is in message or pulse mode. My early model PIM was very chatty in pulse mode, but in message mode it behaved just fine. It was never chatty enough to disrupt communications though.

 

[pete_c]

I had a bad HAI PIM but didn't know it until I tested the two way communications to the HAI panel. It was replaced and all is well to date with the HAI OPII.

Concurrently had an SA filter and it seemed that my signals would at odd times have a lot of noise. It only happened once or twice. I replaced the SA phase coupler with a PCS phase coupler and all is well. The two other PIMs I am using are both SA - one is USB and the other is Serial. I thought it might have been the neighbors pool pump and proximity to the circuits.

My switches are all doing fine. I have a mix of HAI, PCS and SA switches. No LED lamps though still all incandescent interior and exterior lighining. Only change has been setting up the lights in HLC mode on the HAI panel. My UPB signals are pretty decent now where as one phase was very low before putting in the PCS phase coupler. Over the last couple of months have added a few UPS's and not any degradation in the network.

 

[ano]

Its certainly possible a surge caused a problem. How do you fully reset these Simply Automated switches. Since they are quite expense, I would like to try to revive them before I replace them. Was it the 10 taps that reset the switches?